Improvement in telegraph-keys



A. G. DAVIS. Improvement in Telegraph-Keys.

No. 130,793. Patented Aug.2"7,1872.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS e. DAVIS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN TELEGRAPH-KEYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,793, dated August 27, 1872.

I To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS G. DAVIS, of the city and county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telegraph Keys, of which the following, taken in connection with the drawing forming part of this specification, is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention relates more particularly to that part of the key called the circuit-closer used for closing the circuit through the key itself, and its object is to provide certain and reliable contacts in such circuit-closer. The invention consists in making the movable arm or circuit-closers of two pieces, or, more accurately speaking, in affixing a spring-piece to either side, top, or bottom of such arm, so that a wedge-shaped anvil or contact-piece shall be securely griped between them, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Of the drawing, Figure 1 is atop view and Fig. 2 is a side view of a key with my improved circuit-closer attached, the circuit being open. Figs. 3 and 4 are side and bottom views of the I circuit-closer or arm detached from the key.

Like letters indicate similar parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawing, A is the key-lever, pivoted in the set-screws B B, and having the back-adjusting top screw 0, spring-adjusting screw, and contact points a b for closing circuit when in use. These features are of ordinary construction, and to them I lay no claim nor do I lay claim to any particular form of key, my invention being capable of beingused with any of the ordinary keys with which a circuit-closer is used. F represents the circuitcloser, arm, or lever, composed of a piece of metal, 0, pivoted, at 0, upon its under side. A

piece, at, is secured at one end, f. This piece should be springy and stifl. The front interior A edges of the two pieces 0 and 01 should be slightly beveled. The anvil or contact piece for the arm or circuit-closer is seen at IE; it is tween the pieces 0 and d, and is held securely by the spring-like action of the piece (I.

In ordinary circuit-closers the arm F is in one piece, which slides under or upon an anvil. As soon, however, as the anvil or arm becomes somewhat worn their contact is uncertain, they working loosely upon each other. Dirt also accumulates upon the arm and anvil, and they require constant cleaning. By my plan these and other disadvantages are obviated. A good close contact is insured by the action of the spring upon both sides of the anvil, while the slight friction en gendered in opening and closing the arm or circuit-closer keeps the same bright and clean.

It is evident that the mere mechanical arrangement of my invention may be modified. For instance, the spring piece or strap d may be upon the top, bottom, or side; or the anvil, instead of being circular, may be a rectangular block, wedge-shaped or knife-edged; or the anvil may be composed of two pieces, while the arm or circuit-closer is wedge-shaped 01' knife-edged and enters between them.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A telegraph-key circuit-closer, consisting of the arm F, made of two pieces, in combination with the circular wedge-shaped anvil, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a telegraph-key, the circuit-closer F and anvil E, constructed substantially as-described.

' A. G. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

H. CRAIG, G. D. WARD. 

